Why Stretching is Your Best Form of Pain Relief

Tired of achy muscles and joints that are stiff and sore when you get up in the morning? These are just a few of the signs of what tight muscles can do to your body. And the solution is... STRETCHING.

Using your muscles constantly and never making time to stretch causes them to twist and tighten much like a rubber band wound around your finger. Muscle fibers are designed to glide smoothly over one another, shortening when you contract and lengthening as you relax them.

As your muscles tighten, blood flow is restricted, the health and strength of the muscle diminishes and pain and soreness increases. If muscles constantly stay short then pain and stiffness are the result. To stay healthy and pain free, muscles and joints require some additional relaxation time in the form of full body stretching.

Stretching your muscles regularly is a simple and effective way to reduce tightening, increase circulation and reduce pain all in 10 easy minutes a day.

Here a few simple stretching tips I teach to all of my clients:

1. Only stretch when you are warm
2. Never bounce when stretching
3. Hold each stretch for at least 30 seconds
4. Breathe deeply as you hold each stretch
5. Never feel pain during any stretch

Click Here to read more about my two favorite pain relieving stretches for the shoulders and the low back.